McQuaid backed to stay as UCI boss

Pat McQuaid has secured the nomination of Cycling Ireland to stand as president of the International Cycling Union (UCI) for a third term despite being heavily criticised during the inquest into the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.

Pat McQuaid has secured the nomination of Cycling Ireland to stand as president of the International Cycling Union (UCI) for a third term despite being heavily criticised during the inquest into the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.

McQuaid has been increasingly beleaguered since the United States Anti-Doping Agency exposed the extent of the doping undertaken by Armstrong and various former team-mates at his United States Postal Service team.

Armstrong was subsequently banned for life from the sport and stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. However, the cyclist was not the only one to be subject to criticism with many pointing an accusing finger at the UCI, claiming they had swept the affair under the carpet.

McQuaid, though, has resisted calls to resign and instead wants to guide the governing body through the fallout of the Armstrong affair.

The board of Cycling Ireland met on Friday and agreed to nominate McQuaid although their support came with conditions, requesting he raise concerns over governance issues with the UCI management committee.

They called for a rule to be introduced whereby in future a president can serve at most two four-year terms and that no president, vice-president or management committee member can serve the UCI for more than 16 years in total in any role.

Also called for was an independent review of the internal workings at the UCI with the findings to be published and the re-writing of the existing governance code and code of ethics.

McQuaid said: "I am delighted and honoured that the board of Cycling Ireland has endorsed my nomination as a candidate for the presidency of the UCI in September 2013. I put myself forward to serve another term as UCI president on my record of developing the sport throughout the world and on combating the scourge of doping in cycling.

"I engaged thoroughly with board members on both subjects and I welcome their recognition of my achievements and their confidence in me as UCI president. The board has requested that I raise certain concerns on governance issues with the UCI Management Committee and I have undertaken to do so.

"I have set an ambitious agenda to continue developing the sport and to ensure that it remains at the forefront of the fight against doping in sport. I look forward to presenting myself for election with the support of my national federation and other federations worldwide."